The MCC Club Championships is coming to the business end with just 3 rounds left. Round 7 clarified things to an extent with 2 players sharing first. Grandmaster Darryl Johansen has not blown the field away as some might have expected, but still finds himself equal first. He is joined by Domagoi Dragicevic who is having a good start to the year. However, there are a number of players within striking distance. Just half a point back are IM James Morris (his game from round 7 showed some sparkling attacking tactics), Anatoli Sirota (another high seed who is quietly progressing toward the head of the field), and Karl Zelesco. Karl is undoubtedly the sensation of the tournament,having scalped a group of strong players. This round he held Sirota to half a point.
A further half point back is where I am sitting along with IM Rujevic, FM Cheng, Jager and another young sensation, Frank Lekkas. Last night I was sitting next to Frank as he tactically smashed David Garner's Najdorf. It was a very impressive game. The quality of the field is shown that behind these players are IM Guy West, current joint Victorian Champions Dusan Stojic and Chris Wallis, and the 2008 champion, Malcolm Pyke.
Full results and standings can be seen on the MCC website.
Round 7 top board games:
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